DONE DONE DONE DONE DONE DONE

Oh, I cannot even put into words how I am feeling right now. I am excited, relieved, proud, happy, sad, stressed, etc. Mostly, I'm happy and proud. OK, and excited. More than anything, I'M DONE!

I am officially done with all of my college work. I only have graduation and celebration left. Wow, I can't believe it. I did my final presentation today about the plan for the rest of my life. That was the last thing I did in college. It was a great kick-off to my life as a young professional.

OK, let's take a step back. Back to what seems like years ago.... CAMPAIGNS. Yeah, I'm all done. That's right. It is so great to be done. The Pink Team, or should I say The Revel Group, rocked the presentation. We got to go first, which means that the client could leave after our presentation and feel like they had all that they needed. It was an honor. We really wrapped up our campaign nicely. It got a little stressful, but we finished with ZERO all-nighters. On the Friday after our presentation, the university held a summit regarding our final campaigns. The university wants our logo! We are so proud. I am now ready to get out do it all again, only this time I hope I'll be paid for my work.

Graduation is this weekend. As of Saturday afternoon, I will be an official graduate of the University of Kansas J-School. woooooo-hoooooo! I'll update you on the festivities after they happen.

Jobs, jobs, jobs.....? I am excited that now I am going to have time to apply for jobs. That is literally what I am excited for. I'm excited for that. I am also excited to have more time to volunteer, to learn more about graphic design and to read more. Oh, I guess I'm excited for a little pool time, too.

I am ending a huge chapter in my life. A new one is beginning. I can't wait to get my career started. I will update you all soon. I promise I'll be a better blogger.

I can feel the chains breaking

Short and Sweet.

Campaigns will be over this week. I am starting to feel my freedom. I'll post after presentations.

almost done... almost done... almost done... heeeeccccckkkkkk yes. real world here I come.

It's been a while...

But more has happened than you think.

I've been a super busy bee for the last month. I went on my final Spring Break, my dauger ran away and was hit by a car, I worked my tail off for campaigns, I spoke with HR at VZW about potential jobs, and I did my normal routine.

I'll start with what was most devastating. Macy dog got hit by a car! No worries, she's OK (otherwise I'd still be in mourning), but it was scary. Let me backtrack a bit... On Friday, March 26th, I had plans to go out with my BFFs from HS Amanda and Nicci. However, those plans were cut awfully short when I got a call that said Macy had ran away. I sped to Blake's apartment as fast as I could just hoping not to see Macy injured on the way, and was informed upon my arrival that she had darted so fast no one had any idea where she had gone. So I drove around for an hour or so but to no avail. I finally retired and attempted to get a little rest.

In the A.M., I decided I'd check the Lawrence Humane Society. I called, and they checked the found reports and told me they thought they had her. Sure enough, it was Macy. She ran to the Beverely Hills of Lawrence, Kan. (Did I just write in AP style on my blog? I'm such a journalist) A kid in HS had seen Macy in the street, and he and his family took her in for the night. I'm so thankful! OK, so that was great.... but that's not the end.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention earlier that I got sick last month, too. So I went to work the following Monday, but I wasn't feelin' so hot. Well maybe I should say I was feelin' reallly hot, like fever hot. So my manager told me I needed to go to the Dr. to see what was wrong. While in the waiting room, I got the call of doooooom. That's the call that said Macy had been hit by a car and that she was peeing blood. I damn near had a heart attack. I thought for sure she was a goner. Little ol' Macy dog gettin' hit by a car doing 40.

After I saw the Doc, I was told to go home and rest. When I got home, Macy was all swollen and covered in blood, which reinforced my negative attitude. Lucky for me, I have a fantastic bf that makes me feel better when I'm sad. Blake came home and told me that everything was going to be OK and that Macy was a tough girl. After I spoke with the vet, I decided to take his advice and wait until the A.M. to take her in. That evening she stopped peeing blood and the swelling went down, so I didn't take her to the vet the next day, but I assure you, she was treated like a queen on her deathbed. It was the next day that the sad news came. Wednesday morning she couldn't walk. Well, her front legs did but her back legs, not so much. I had to take her home that day anyways as I was leaving for CO the next day (oh yeah, I was also on a national no-fly list last month) so I took her to my mom's and she took her to our vet for me while I was at work and school. Turns out, Macy is abnormal and has something weird goin on with her spine. In the end, she had to get doggie accupuncture and she's all better now.

OK, sorry about the detail. I know no one cares about Macy girl like I do, but keep in mind she is my dauger.

Now for the fun stuff. I WENT ON SPRING BREAK TO PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL AND HAD SO MUCH FUN! I went with my friend Katy Saunders, her friend from VA, my roomates and our friends. Katy and I drove down with Glenda, the GPS. It was an awesome trip. We had sooo much fun driving, stopping in local businesses and searching for locally brewed beers for Katy's bottle cap map. We also had a little troubs in PCB. The booking agency we used, which I will not name, did not reserve our rooms with the hotel. So, when we arrived, we were told we had no place to stay. After several hours of being jostled around, they found us a place to stay, but we had to split up into two rooms. I'd say we went from Hilton-esque to Super 8. The girls we were with complained a lot about it, but Katy, Alex (her friend) and I just laughed it off and headed to Coyote Ugly. Our hotel ended up being awesome for SB. Everyone there was so much fun, and we had free beer from 12-2 and a liquor store in the lobby. While I was there, I couldn't help but watch the way people were drinking. I was inherently doing ethnographic research for campaigns... It has fully consumed me! Well, I have lots of other funny things to say about the trip, but no one seems to think they're quite as funny as those of us that were on the trip. Oh, I will say I can cross being buried in the sand off my Bucket List.

On to the next thing... CAMPAIGNS! Well, my team is phenomenal to say the least. Pink Team fo' life, baby! We all work so well together, I couldn't ask for a better team. I'd say we are really fortunate seeing as how we didn't all know each other coming into the class. Everyone is a team player and a hard worker. We've been busting our tails trying to avoid the week full of all-nighters that seems to be inevitable. We present on 5/5 so it's quickly coming to an end. I'm sure my next post will be all about campaigns, seeing as that's what my life's all about these days, so I'll leave this here.

HR. Well I spoke with HR at VZW and didn't get good news. I basically heard that it would be possible to get into Marketing there, but it would take a few more years at my current location. I have decided that is not the route I want to take, so I have been exploring other career options. I have an interview with SPM Communications in Dallas, TX, for a 3-6 month internship on Friday. I am really excited about it. I've read about them before, but I am reading more and more about the company and I really like what they do. I mean, they do PR for food. I'm perfect, right? My family and close friends know the answer to that question.

OK, I am going to hit the sack. Long day tomorrow. I'll post more often, I promise.

Mid-Semester Crisis

Wow... I've never had this intense of a week for midterms, ever I don't think. I have a HUGE midterm for my Western Civilization class that is just utterly unbearable. I am studing now. I cannot wait until 11 AM tomorrow. I'll be allll done with it :)

On a lighter note, I'm staying at home this week to babysit Aubby because my parents are in PUERTO RICO. Bomb, I know! Katie is with her boyfriend, Jimmy, in uhh, well Mexico. I'm not entirely sure which town. What I am sure about is that her pictures that she's sent are beautiful, and I was once again reminded of how small the world truly is. Katie shows up to her resort in MX and when they sit down at the bar for a drink, she literally recognizes the bartender. Yes, it is the same bartender that served us at our resort in Cancun over NYE '08 (which will go down in history as the best new years of my life, thumbs up senor frogs).

Well, this has been a nice study break. Thanks for tuning in. I'll be back next time with more interesting stuff.

Oh yeah, I am now the resident expert on CSU for Campaigns. That means that I will get to travel to CSU to observe its implementation of a plan to curb toxic drinking. Also, we got scooped. LJ World did a piece on UNL's drinking campaign which we were using. Low blow, right? Oh well, we will rise above (and go beyond) that :)

Happy new jobs and vacations to all my followers :)

Doin' Big Things

If there is anyone that makes me more excited about who I am, it's Diane O'Byrne. She is my professional presentation skills professor, and every time I talk to her, she makes me feel so much better about my job search. She reminds me that I do have real-world experience, which can be far more relevant than internships, and that I am basically a highly-desirable employee for any company. WOO HOO! Someone else thinks I am as awesome as I do. Just kidding, sort of. Such s relief.

I just gave a 10 minute presentation about... ME! It was basically a brief history of Val Gunn. I used Keynote (basically PPT for Macs) for the first time, and I liked it a lot! Diane mentioned to me a few opportunities she thinks I would be good for, and I am going to get more info from her. She also asked me to introduce our guest speaker for next week's class because she will not be there. She said she really wants me to meet him because he is a great contact. She warned me that he will probably try to hire me. HELLO?! Please do! I'll keep you posted.

Let me tell you about Campaigns. PINK TEAM FO' LIFE, BABY! I really like my team. We work so well together, and I am soooooo grateful for that. We have just been generating more and more ideas and building off of each others' ideas. I am so excited. Like you said Drea, it really is kind of an internship in and of itself. I feel like I am really getting prepared for real work, which I love. Today we are meeting with Kerry Benson! And for those of you that know her, exciting, right?! BTW, she follows me on Twitter. How bomb is that? BOMB!

Okay, I have to do some message delivery research. Adios Amigos.

Graduation... Good? Yes? No? IDK!

Kyle Hoedl just spoke to my Professional Presentation Skills class on ow to use social media to market yourself to potential employers. While he provided some great information, he stressed me out! I know that internships are great, and I know that they provide real world experience, which is what employers are looking for. I get it. But what about those of us that have actually worked to put ourselves through school? I haven't had an internship, but I do have 3 years of hard work in the real world. Where does that put me in the job search? It is so disheartening to hear that not only do you have to have an internship to get a job, but now you have to have an internship to get an internship! How do you start any more? Well I'm starting by working hard in school and at my job. I am applying for several Marketing positions within Verizon so wish me luck! They are both great opportunities. I am qualified for both, and I know the industry well. I'm looking forward to a response.

As for the rest of my day, I have another campaigns meeting. I filled in for Bre today and met with the Planning Directors today to compile research into our Fact Books. That was fun to see what the other functional groups are doing. We have a lot of research. I am excited about our final product. Tonight I am meeting with the Pink Team for the first time. We're meeting at my place so I have to run and get some juice/pop/cookies so I can be a good hostess. I am excited to start working as a team.

This semester is lots of work but so much fun at the same time. I know I am getting prepared for the real world, and that's why I am enjoying it! I also encourage everyone to get a Twitter. I love social media.